Busy week

After the dinner with my cousin's family, I sat down and just found out this week was just too busy for me to sit down, review, and meditate.

There were work and exploration on The Place going in parallel this week which invade all my time other than sleep. On work I was having the most unlucky days with frequent encounter to poor-conditioned cases, together with shortage of staff that made me suffocating; On The Place, me and the co-founders were focusing on every details of set up, e.g. location confirmation, making up budget plan; I could barely remember my home is under renovation.

Time was just too short these days.

Ted | Ken Robinson on creativity restraint

Renovation

With the idea of soley arranging a computer desk for my sister, my mother thought so big that it turned out to be an renovation for the house. It surprised me and my sister; For my sister, she never thought wanting a computer desk can eventually end up switching room with me; And for me, definitely never have i thought the process can be swift as hell. I have to admit i underestimate my mum's crazy idea as well - of providing a double bed in my room (know the implication mates?).

Simply 10 days, most of the drawers in the house were discarded. We adopted the design draft from mark, our new house designer, for the allocation of new furniture, set up and its colour.

Anyway, by the way I am writing up this blog I am already staying at Jardine Hill, my cousin's house temporaily till the end of renovation. Look foward to the new house, and would definitely arrange a party when renovation work got finalized.

El Hierro

While HK's having the most dirtiest days, El Hierro, an remote island somewhere in Spain, is trying their best to keep the sky blue and clear.

What made my job better

Sometimes, when you are overwhelmed with handling patients' physical complaints, discharge documents, the most excitiing thing is to hear a word of 'thank you' from them, waving you goodbye, griming, seeing them walking out of sight.

when days are too well packed, evade

Had a day off and after a day roaming around the city I deliberately hided myself from the world. Muted the phone, put on the earphones, grabbed the camera I haven't much used since travel to the pier.

Sitting in the pier promenade, quietly enjoying the millions of lights sparkling - it already made my day.

Monocle Issue 25 Volume 3 July 2009 - Perfect city

She speaks out all I am craving for .......

Monika Sprüth
Co-owner, with Philomene Magers,
Sprüth Magers Galleries
London/Berlin/Köln

What elements would a perfect business city have?
It should be the place in the world where culture merges. Culture understood in a broad context reduced not only to art, music, design, architecture, theatre - The city where all contradictions of the world are experienceable and tangible.

How important is quality of life when choosing a base?
Quality of life has a practical and intellectual aspect. Creative architecture in beautiful urban or rural settings. A house with a view of a lake, a river or the sea. With young children close to good and creative schools. A mix between anonymous privacy and friends who share the same interests and discourse. And, most importantly, to have the possibility to see matches of my favourite football club - the professionals and the youth teams.

Which cities are getting it right?
Cities that understand that their strength is mainly based on their history and culture. Places that are always on the borderline between collapse and never-ending cultural regeneration - here culture can grow. Melting pots: cities such as Berlin, New York, London.

If you could be based in any city, where would that be?
I cannot make up my mind. Objectively, all cities that have charisma and vibrancy like Berlin or London are great, perfect places for our galleries. Personally, my preferences change quite often and it seems the easiest to stay where my football club 1.FC Köln is located: Köln!